The female teacher's weight soared to 88 kilograms, and the heavy load on her knees affected her walking! Endoscopic gastric reduction surgery restores confidence

People who are overweight may put pressure on their knee joints, which may even affect their walking in the long run. A 63-year-old teacher named Huang was overweight, weighing up to 88 kilograms, which caused her knees to be unable to bear the load. Long hours of teaching made her movements increasingly difficult. She tried to control her diet and exercise to lose weight but encountered a bottleneck. She wanted to undergo surgery but was worried about intestinal adhesion problems. On the recommendation of a friend, she chose the "Endoscopic Gastrectomy" at Chang Chi Medical Center. Not only did the surgery provide a quick recovery and significant results, but she also did not have to worry about adhesion problems, successfully allowing her to regain her health and confidence.

Taiwan ranks first in East Asia in obesity prevalence

According to statistics from the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the overweight and obesity rates among adults in Taiwan continue to rise. As of 2017 to 2020, the overweight and obesity rate among adults over the age of 18 has reached 50.3%, which means that one in every two adults is overweight. Obesity causes chronic diseases, hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome, which affects physical health and increases the risk of acute and severe illness. According to the World Health Organization (WHO)'s 2020 Global Obesity Report, Taiwan ranks first in East Asia in terms of obesity prevalence, and the obesity rates among adults and children in Taiwan are rising rapidly.

If the patient is not morbidly obese, endoscopic gastric reduction may be an option

For patients with morbid obesity (BMI of 35 or more, who have obesity-related diseases), the Ministry of Health and Welfare and the National Health Administration not only encourage the public to control their weight through healthy diet and exercise, but also provide surgical treatment for those with a BMI of more than 35 who have developed diseases. For those whose obesity has caused a serious burden on the body but has not yet reached the level of morbid obesity, there are many different weight loss treatments available, and endoscopic gastrectomy is one of them.

Teacher Huang has a cheerful personality and is more casual about his diet. He does not control his diet, so he gained weight (up to 88 kg), which put a red flag on his health. The long hours of standing while teaching put added pressure on his knees, and he even had to rely on crutches for support. He also tried to lose weight through diet and exercise, but encountered a bottleneck. Because her husband had undergone traditional abdominal surgery when he was young and had suffered from intestinal adhesions for a long time, she was particularly cautious about choosing surgery. Through a friend's introduction, Ms. Huang learned that Chang Chi Medical Center provided "endoscopic gastric reduction surgery." After discussing with the doctor, she immediately decided to undergo this treatment because it has a small wound, quick recovery, and does not require the removal of gastric tissue.

Wu Donglong, the attending physician at Chang Gung University International Weight Loss and Body Beauty Center who treated Mr. Huang, said that maintaining a healthy weight has many benefits, and there are many ways to lose weight, including exercise, diet control, internal medicine medication, endoscopic weight loss and surgical operations. Doctors will tailor appropriate treatment plans based on the needs and physical conditions of different patients. Because Dr. Huang was worried about adhesion problems after the operation, he chose "endoscopic gastric reduction surgery". This surgery uses an endoscope to suture the stomach from the inside to shrink the stomach into a tube, achieving an effect similar to sleeve gastrectomy, but it does not remove gastric tissue and does not affect nutrient absorption. It provides patients with an option to lose weight without sequelae.

Dr. Wu Donglong said that the advantage of "endoscopic gastric reduction surgery" is that it does not cause any wounds and does not cause any damage. (Photo provided by Chang Chien Memorial Hospital)

Advantages of endoscopic gastric reduction surgery

Dr. Wu Donglong pointed out that the advantages of "endoscopic gastric reduction surgery" are, first, there is no wound, and second, no damage is done, such as cutting the stomach or making any changes to the digestive tract. Therefore, subsequent problems such as gastroesophageal reflux, absorption effects, and even wound adhesion or leakage are less likely to occur. Although surgery is a powerful aid in weight loss, maintaining a healthy weight in the long term still requires good living habits. Therefore, we encourage Mr. Huang that after successfully losing weight through surgery, he should also continue to improve his diet and develop regular exercise habits in order to maintain his health and self-confidence in the long term and embrace a lighter and better future.

Chiu Pei-chu, a nutritionist at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital International Weight Loss and Body Beauty Center, said that every time Ms. Huang came back for a follow-up visit, she would help her measure her body mass index, analyze the muscle lost during the weight loss process, or the degree of fat loss, and adjust her diet plan according to the results of each measurement.

Five months after the operation, Mr. Huang's weight has steadily decreased and has dropped to 68 kg. Not only has the burden on his knees been greatly reduced, but the data from blood tests has also improved significantly. The amount of thyroid and hypertension medications he was taking has also been significantly reduced. Now, she has given away her old clothes one by one and bought clothes that fit her current body shape. She has regained her health and confidence. Her family and friends are all amazed at her transformation and have praised her, saying, "She has lost so much weight that her body shape has changed!"

Teacher Huang (second from left) thanked Dr. Wu Donglong (second from right) and the medical team for their continued care and encouragement. (Photo provided by Chang Chien Memorial Hospital)

Teacher Huang said that losing weight has helped him become healthier. As for weight loss, the National Health Service emphasizes that maintaining a healthy weight has many benefits for the body, including the following 8 benefits:

8 Benefits of Maintaining a Healthy Weight

1. Reduce the risk of chronic diseases: reduce the chances of developing hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome.

2. Improve cardiovascular health: Helps lower blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels, and reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.

3. Reduce the burden on joints: Weight loss can reduce the pressure on the knees, hip joints and spine, and reduce joint degeneration and pain.

4. Improve metabolism and digestive function: Maintaining a healthy weight can improve insulin sensitivity and reduce the incidence of fatty liver and gastroesophageal reflux.

5. Enhance immunity: Proper weight control can help reduce chronic inflammation and improve the body's resistance.

6. Improve sleep quality: reduce the occurrence of sleep apnea, improve sleep efficiency and energy recovery.

7. Improve mental health: Weight loss can increase self-confidence, reduce anxiety and depression, and improve the overall quality of life.

8. Prolong life: Maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the risk of various diseases and improve healthy life expectancy and quality of life.

Through a healthy diet and regular exercise, combined with appropriate weight loss methods, you can effectively maintain a healthy weight and achieve the best balance between your physical and mental state.